Massage device

ABSTRACT

A massage device includes a rotatable housing containing a plurality of projecting spheres for engaging the skin and kneading the tissues therebeneath. The housing has a cavity therein for storing massaging fluid or lotion which is dispensed over and by the spheres. The massage device may either be permanently or removably attached to a rotary drive unit or may be in combination with a fluid metering means contained in a rotary drive means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to massage devices and more particularly, thisinvention relates to massage devices which utilize rotating spheres anddispense massage lotion.

2. Technical Considerations and Prior Art

Mositurizing preparations in the form of lotions and creams are widelyused to add moisture to the hydrophilic outmost layer of the skin, aswell as to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the skin.

Cosmetic experts recommend toning and moisturizing as a regime to keepfacial skin supple and pliable, and to counteract the formation ofwrinkles associated with dehydration and aging.

Massaging is widely practiced to tone facial muscles to which the skinis attached. Gentle pressure causes a reaction in the tissues thatincreases blood supply to the treated area, which in turn supportsmetabolic activity. Hand massaging is usually done by slow circularstroking along the major facial muscles.

There are oscillating mechanical massaging devices, however, using thesedevices for facial massages is generally not satisfactory, because theyusually produce only short vibratory strokes at high frequencies, whichdo not allow sufficient time for the muscle tissue to react.

The prior art also includes massaging devices which utilize rotatingspheres, which revolve around a central axis. However, these devicesinclude no structure for dispensing massaging lotions and are not reallysuitable for facial massages. Examples of this type of massaging deviceare disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,557,417; 1,777,151; 1,899,208 and.Badd..[.2,043,144.]..Baddend. .Iadd.2,043,114. .Iaddend.

It is also known to equip massage devices with spheres in order to applyfluid. This concept is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,103,261; 2,285,105;.Badd..[.2,706,471.]..Baddend. .Iadd.2,706,474; .Iaddend.2,895,469;2,988,084 and 3,754,548. In these patents, the spheres are notmechanically driven while dispensing the fluid. Rather the motionimparted to the spheres is derived by manually manipulating the deviceinstead of by a combination of manually manipulating the device, whilethe spheres are mechanically driven to revolve, roll and rotate.

The prior art does not teach the concept of a massaging device, which isespecially suitable for facial massages and uses a combination ofmechanically driven rotating spheres, which dispense a massaging ortreating lotion as they are driven.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

In view of the afore-described deficiencies of the prior art, it is anobject of this invention to provide a new and improved massaging device.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide a new andimproved massaging device, which is especially suited for facialmassages.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a new andimproved massaging device, which drives a plurality of spheres to rollover the skin while performing a massage.

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide a new andimproved device, which dispenses liquid over driven spheres while inoperation.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide a new andimproved massaging device, which is readily coupled to existing motordrives, similar to that disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,634.

It is an additional object of the instant invention to provide a new andimproved massaging device wherein the massaging device utilizesrevolving and rotating spheres and dispenses massaging fluid, andwherein the device is combined with a motor and fluid metering device ina single unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned and other objects, the instant inventioncontemplates a massage device including a housing which is disposed torotate about an axis. Means are included for transmitting rotary motionto the housing and a cavity is included within the housing forcontaining fluid. The housing has a plurality of openingscircumferentially disposed in one end, through which project sphereswhich perform a massage when driven. A passage communicates with thehousing, so that fluid may be injected into the housing for applicationby the spheres.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in prospective showing a massage deviceaccording to the instant invention, in combination with a drive unitwhich is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,634.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the massage device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, showingthe construction of the massage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the instantinvention, showing a massage unit in combination with a lotion meteringand drive unit.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the massage device of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a drive unit 10 which may haveany convenient configuration. Preferably, the drive unit 10 is similarto that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. .Badd..[.3,744,634.]..Baddend..Iadd.3,733,634.Iaddend., and contains a motor (not shown) and batterypack (not shown). A massage device, generally designated by the numeral12, is coupled to the drive unit 10 for rotation by the drive unit witha coupling, generally designated by the numeral 13. The massage unit 12includes a plurality of massaging spheres 15 for engaging the skin andkneading the muscles, which support the skin. Preferably when energized,the drive unit 10 rotates the massage unit 12 at a relatively low speed,in the range of one to ten revolution per second. In this particularembodiment, the lotion or other fluid dispensed by the massage unit 12is injected into the massage unit through a passage 16 axially disposedin the massage unit.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, in combination with FIG. 1, it is seenthat the massage unit 12 has a stem 18 projecting therefrom, which isreceived in a bore 19 within the coupling element 13 of the drive unit10. The massage unit is held into the drive unit as illustrated in FIG.4. The stem 18 has a slot 20 formed in one end, and a pair ofprojections 21 radially extending adjacent to the slot so that the stemwill frictionally engage the bore 19, and thereby hold the massage unit12 mounted into the drive unit 10. A pair of radial projections 22register with recesses 23 (FIG. 1) in the coupling element 13, so thatthe coupling element 13 will positively drive massage unit 12. When itis desired to remove the massage unit 12 from the drive unit 10, themassage unit is simply pulled with sufficient force to overcome frictionbetween the projections 21 and the interior surface of the bore 19.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, it is seen that the massage unit 12defines a circular housing 24 having a cavity 25 therein, which isdefined by a back wall 26, which cooperates with an annular flange 27.The annular flange 27 has a side rim 28 and a bottom wall 29. The bottomwall 29 has a plurality of openings 31 therein, each of which retains asphere 15. The openings 31 may taper inwardly and have a minimumdiameter, which is less than the maximum diameter of the spheres, sothat the spheres will not fall through the openings. The openings 31 maybe equally spaced around the axis of the housing 24.

As seen in FIG. 3, the passage 16 registers with the cavity 25, so thatfluid may be dispensed or injected through the passage 16 fordistribution by the spheres 15. The passage 16 has an annular lip 33therearound, which helps retain the fluid in the cavity 25.

If the material is in the form of a relatively viscous fluid, such as acream which will not readily run out of the passage 16, then it may bedispensed into the chamber 25, while the chamber is in any orientation.However, if the fluid is relatively nonviscous and flows relativelyfreely, then the unit is tilted vertically and the fluid poured throughthe passage 16. Upon rotating the unit, the fluid will flow bycentrifugal force along the back wall 26, and into a space 35 behind thespheres 15. The centrifugal force acting on the spheres 15 and the fluidwill tend to force the spheres against the openings 31, sealing them andkeeping the fluid within the cavity 25. When the spheres 15 are broughtinto contact with the skin, the spheres will begin to rotate as theyrevolve and carry the fluid from the space 35 onto the skin of the user,while massaging the tissues and muscles below the skin.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a second embodiment ofthe instant invention, wherein a massaging unit or device, generallydesignated by the numeral 112, is removably attached to the drive means,which is contained within a housing, generally designated by the numeral113. In this embodiment, the drive is obtained from an electric motor115, which rotates the massaging device 112 through a gear train,generally designated by the numeral 116. A fluid dispensing and meteringunit 114 is also contained within the housing 113.

As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the massage unit 112 has aplurality of spheres 120 mounted therein circumferentially about an axis121. The spheres 120 project through openings or recesses 122 disposedin an end plate 123. The end plate 123 cooperates with a housing 124 toform a cavity 125 which, as will be explained hereinafter, contains themassaging lotion.

The massaging device 112 is connected by a drive shaft 126 to a gear127. The gear 127 is driven by a gear 128 that is coaxially mounted witha gear 129, which is meshed with a gear 130 and driven by the motor 115.The gears are mounted in a mounting support within the housing itself.The motor 115 may be energized either by batteries or by a cordconnecting the motor to house current. As the motor 115 drives the unit112, the unit will rotate about the axis 121 and when the spheres 120are in contact with a surface, such as the skin, they will roll orrotate.

The massaging fluid or lotion is dispensed into the cavity 125 through abore 132 in the drive shaft 126. The bore 132 is aligned with a tube133, that is in turn registered with a passageway 134, having a rightangle bend 135 therein. The right angle bend 135 communicates with achamber 136, in which the fluid is stored. The fluid is then able toflow from the chamber 136 through the right angle bend 135, the passage134, the tube 133, the bore 132 and into the cavity 125. From the cavity125, the fluid is dispensed by the rolling spheres 120 onto the face. Inorder to facilitate dispensing the fluid, the openings 122, which retainthe spheres 120 in place may have slots 138 which register with thecavity 125, or may be constructed as shown in FIG. 1.

The metering unit 114 includes a reservoir 140, which is charged withmassaging fluid. The reservoir 140 has threads about one end thereof andis screwed into a piston 143, which is slidably received in a chamber136. The piston 143 is biased to the left by a spring 144, which pushesit against a retaining ring 145. To fill the reservoir 140, thereservoir is unscrewed from the piston 143, filled with fluid and thenscrewed back into the piston 143. The piston 143 has a one-way duck billvalve 146 disposed therethrough, which communicates between thereservoir 140 and chamber 136. The reservoir 140 also has a duck billvalve 147 at its opposite end, which opens to the atmosphere. A buttonportion 149 formed by the second end of the reservoir 140 projects outof the housing 113.

In operation, the projecting portion 149 is depressed to push thereservoir against the bias of the spring 144 engaged by the piston 143.This forces air and fluid out of the chamber 136 and through the passage134 and the tube 133. The spring 144 then returns the piston 143 to itsoriginal position where it seats against the retaining washer 145. Thiscauses a partial vacuum in the chamber 136 due to the restricted area ofthe passageways 133 and 134 and the tube 133 that restricts the flow offluid back into the chamber. Valve 146 then opens to let fluid flow intothe chamber 136, while the valve 147 opens and lets air into thereservoir 140. Upon again passing the projecting portion 149 of thereservoir 140, the fluid or lotion in chamber 136 is pushed to flow intothe cavity 125 as described above. A sliding seal 151 is disposedbetween the piston 143 and the inner wall of chamber 136, and a rotatingseal 152 engages the tube 133, so that all of the moving parts areeffectively sealed.

In operation, the massaging units 12 and 112 of the first and secondembodiments respectively, are manually moved as the spheres 15 and 120are driven to revolve around a central axis and are rolled over theskin. A compound motion which enhances the massaging action is thusachieved.

The spheres 15 and 120 may be resilient so as to flex during the massageor may be stiff, so as not to flex. In addition, the spheres may have asmooth surface or a texturized surface, and may be resiliently mounted,so as to readily conform the irregularity of user's face.

The afore-described embodiments are merely illustrative of theinvention, which is to be limited only by the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A massage device comprising:a housing disposedabout a rotational axis; means for transmitting rotary motion to thehousing to rotate the housing about the axis; a circular cavity withinthe housing for containing a fluid; a plurality of openingscircumferentially disposed in one end of the housing, wherein saidopenings register with said cavity; a sphere disposed in each of saidopenings, wherein the spheres each have a diameter greater than thesmallest diameter of the openings, .[.the.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.projectthrough the openings for rotation relative to the housing as the housingrotates; and a passage into said housing communicating with said cavity,wherein said passage is aligned with the axis of said housing andprovides for introduction of said fluid into said cavity and onto saidspheres for distribution thereby.
 2. The massage device of claim 1,wherein the means for transmitting rotary motion to the housing is acoupling for detachably connecting the .[.massage device.]..Iadd.housing .Iaddend.to a motor.
 3. The massage device of claim 2,wherein the passage opens on a side of the .[.house.]. .Iadd.housing.Iaddend.opposite the coupling.
 4. The massage device of claim 3,wherein the passage includes an annular lip, which extends into thecavity to help prevent the fluid from flowing out of the cavity.
 5. Themassage device of claim 1, further including a drive unit and fluiddispensing unit, wherein the drive unit is coupled to the rotary motiontransmitting means and the passage extends through the rotary motiontransmitting means and registers with the fluid dispensing unit.
 6. Themassage device of claim 5, wherein the fluid dispensing unit includesmetering means for dispensing metered amounts of fluid into a chamberwhich registers with said passage.
 7. The massage device of claim 6,wherein the metering means includes:a reservoir for storing the fluid,said reservoir having first and second ends, the first end of which isslidably received in said chamber; first one-way valve meanscommunicating between the reservoir and chamber for allowing fluid toflow from the reservoir into the chamber, but not from the chamber tothe reservoir; second one-way valve means communicating between thereservoir and atmosphere for allowing air to flow into the reservoir butfor preventing fluid from flowing out of the reservoir into theatmosphere; retaining means for holding the reservoir in the chamber;spring means for urging the reservoir against the holding means; andflow restriction means for preventing fluid from flowing back into thechamber from the passage, so that when the reservoir is pushed into thechamber against the bias of the spring means and then returned againstthe retaining means by the spring means a partial vacuum is created inthe chamber which pulls fluid through the first one-way valve means intothe chamber and air through the second one-way valve means into thereservoir, and so that when the reservoir is again pushed, the fluid inthe chamber pushes fluid in the passage through the cavity in themassage device housing.
 8. The massage device of claim 7, wherein thespring means is disposed within the chamber between the chamber and thefirst end of the reservoir.
 9. The massage device of claim 7, wherein apiston is disposed between the reservoir and chamber and wherein thereservoir is threaded to the piston, so as to be removable therefrom forcharging with fluid.
 10. The massage device of claim 7, wherein thedrive unit and fluid dispensing unit are contained within a housing, andwherein the second end of the reservoir extends through the housing toprovide a button, which when depressed meters fluid to the chamber..Iadd.
 11. A massage device comprising:a housing disposed about arotational axis; a rotary drive unit; means for transmitting rotarymotion from the rotary drive unit to the housing to rotate the housingabout said axis; a cavity within the housing disposed about saidrotational axis for containing a fluid; a plurality of openings disposedabout said rotational axis in the side of the housing opposite to therotary motion transmitting means, wherein said openings extend into saidcavity; a sphere disposed in each of said openings, wherein the sphereseach have a diameter greater than the smallest diameter of the openings,and project through the openings for rotation relative to the housingupon manual engagement of said spheres with the skin as the housing isrotated by said rotary drive unit; and a passage into said housingopening on said side of the housing opposite to the rotary motiontransmitting means and communicating with said cavity, wherein saidpassage is aligned with the axis of said housing and provides forintroduction of said fluid into said cavity and onto said spheres fordistribution thereby. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 12. The massage device of claim11, wherein both the housing and the cavity are circular. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 13. The massage device of claims 11 or 12, wherein the passageincludes an annular lip, which extends into the cavity to help preventthe fluid from flowing out of the cavity. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 14. Themassage device of claim 11, wherein the means for transmitting rotarymotion to the housing is a coupling for detachably connecting thehousing to a motor. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 15. The massage device of claim 14,wherein the coupling has a bore and the housing has an axiallyprojecting stem, said stem having a slot formed in its end and a pair ofprojections radially extending adjacent to the slot, so that the stemwill frictionally engage said bore. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 16. The massagedevice of claim 14, wherein said housing has projections which registerwith recesses in the coupling for positive drive thereby..Iaddend..Iadd.
 17. The massage device of claim 11, wherein said driveunit rotates within the range of one to ten revolutions per second..Iaddend.